Chicago Airport and City Info

No visa is usually required for tourism or business trips within ninety days. However, entry to the US is often denied for those entering and exiting frequently, or those staying in the US for a long time. Those traveling with a visa waiver must obtain electronic travel authorization from ESTA (excluding entry by land).

It is preferable to have a passport that is valid for at least 90 days from the date of entry.

• * Note for travel to the United States

The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) was introduced in 2009 for those wishing to travel to the United States without a visa. To use this system, you must apply for travel authorization in advance. Applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before departure on the official ESTA website(https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/). Follow the procedure in Japanese, and enter the applicant information, passport information, travel information, address during your stay in the United States (e.g. your hotel), and other details in the roman alphabet. The application fee is $14. You can pay by American Express, MasterCard, VISA, or other credit card. Valid for two years from the completion of registration (except if your passport is lost)

Starting April 1, 2016, everyone traveling to the US without a visa must have an e-Passport (IC passport). This rule also applies to visitors with a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). If you are traveling to the US with a visa waiver, you must confirm that your passport is an e-Passport (IC passport). Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act was enacted on January 21, 2016. According to this act, the following individuals cannot travel to the US on the visa waiver program (VMP).

• Nationals of VWP countries who have traveled to or been present in Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia, or Yemen on or after March 1, 2011 (Libya, Somalia, and Yemen were added to the list on February 18, 2016. North Korea were added to the list on August 6, 2016).
• Nationals of VWP countries who are also nationals of Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria.

These individuals must apply for a visa. Travelers may be eligible for a visa waiver with case-by-case screening if the purpose of travel was official business for an international organization, news reporting by a journalist, or legitimate business activities. Please check with the US Embassy or Consulate for details. Visas, Visa Waiver Program.

• * Visa, passport, and other information is subject to change without notice. Be sure to check with the Embassy, Consulate, or travel agency.

When visiting from Japan, it is prohibited to bring the following items into the United States.

a. Fruit, vegetables, plants, seeds, foods, insects, plant products

b. Meat, processed meat, animals, animal or wild animal products (foods that contain eggs or meat extracts are also prohibited)

c. Disease agents, cell cultures, snails

d. Soil

• * Alcohol such as absinthe with the alcohol content of 70% or more cannot be brought in to the country.
• * Examples of food products that contain meat extract are cup noodles, furikake rice seasonings, curry roux, and instant soups.

The scope for tax exemption is 200 cigarettes, same as for regular cigarettes.

The US Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that those under 18 entering the US unaccompanied or accompanied by one parent or another individual who is not a parent or legal guardian have an English document signed by both parents or the parent who is not accompanying the minor.

For travelers who are 21 or older, tax is exempt for 1 L of alcohol for personal consumption or gifts up to $100 in value. Tax is exempt for up to 200 cigarettes (or 50 cigars or 2 kg for cut tobacco). All food products containing vegetables, fruit, meat, or meat extracts are not allowed to be brought into the country.

There are four time zones in mainland U.S. Chicago is in the Central Time Zone (CST) and is 15 hours behind Japan. (It is 9PM the previous day in Chicago when it is noon in Japan.) In summer, almost all states use Daylight Saving Time (summertime) and the clocks move forward an hour. The time difference between Japan and Chicago becomes an hour shorter. Daylight Saving Time is from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. When traveling, be careful of the changes in the time difference.

The TV and video system is NTSC in both Japan and the US, and the Blu Ray region code is A in both Japan and the US, so media from both countries can be played on media players in the other country. However, the DVD region code is 1 for the US and 2 for Japan. Therefore media that does not include both region codes or the label 'All codes' is not cross-compatible.

Airmail to Japan is $1.15 for letters and postcards. There are some postal methods with a set rate for using a specified envelope or box.

Hours vary slightly between towns/cities. Post offices are generally open from around 9:00 to 17:00 on weekdays.Postal boxes are blue. Mail designated as EXPRESS MAIL is only express for domestic deliveries.

Ex. When calling (03) 1234-5678:

1. dial 011 (International telephone identification numbers)
2. 81 (Country Code, Japan)
3. 3 (Remove the first 0 for area codes)
4. 1234-5678 (Other parties telephone No.)

Ex. When calling Los Angeles (213) 123-456:

1. International Telephone Company No.
   • 001 (KDDI)*1
   • 0033 (NTT Communications) *1
   • 0061 (SoftBank Telecom) *1
   • 005345 (au Mobile) *2
   • 009130 (NTT DoCoMo Mobile) *3
   • 0046 (SoftBank Mobile)*4
2. 010 (International Identification No.)
3. 1 (Country Code, The United States of America)
4. 213 (Area Code)
5. 123-4567 (Other parties telephone No.)

• * For the three cell phone carriers, hold down 0 until + appears, then add the country code and the phone number your wish to dial.

Note that some states have different holidays. Shops that claim to be open year-round are almost always closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Also, many stores have different hours during the summer holidays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

• January 1: New Year's Day
• 3rd Monday of January: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
• 3rd Monday of February: Presidents' Day
• March 17: St. Patrick's Day*1
• March 31: Cesar Chavez Day
• 3rd Monday of April: Patriots' Day*1
• Last Monday of May: Memorial Day
• July 4: Independence Day
• 1st Monday in September: Labor Day
• 2nd Monday in October: Columbus Day*1
• November 11: Veterans Day
• 4th Thursday in November: Thanksgiving Day
• December 25: Christmas Day

Mostly English, although it is not the law. Spanish is used in many places across the US.

Below are guidelines for general business hours. Hours vary with the type of business and location. Supermarkets are open either 24-hours a day or 22-hours. It is not rare for stores to close at around 19:00 in urban business districts.

Mon. to Fri. 9:00 to 17:00.

Mon. to Fri. 10:00 to 20:00, Sat. 10:00 to 19:00, Sun. 11:00 to 18:00.

Coffee shops and other cafes are open from the morning. Breakfast is from 7:00 to 10:00, lunch from 11:30 to 14:30, and dinner from 17:30 to 22:00. Bars are open until late at night.

Although it varies by state, the drinking age is generally 21. Some places require you to show ID when buying alcohol. ID is also required at clubs and other places that serve alcohol. In the US, there is a very high rate of car accidents among younger drivers, and, with very few exceptions, almost all major car rental companies do not rent cars to people under 25. Extra fees are often required for drivers between the age of 21 and 24.